Voodoo-Inspired Art: Chicken Feet T-Shirt Design Process

How I Create Voodoo-Inspired Art and Occult T-Shirt Designs

A behind-the-scenes look at the chicken feet design, from first sketch to finished tee.

Hello, I'm Diane, the artist behind OCCVLTE. I'm passionate about occult history, witchcraft studies and ancient symbolism, and I turn that fascination into alternative t-shirts for people who like their fashion with a little mystery.

In this post, I'm walking you through the creative process behind one of my newest occult designs: the chicken foot t-shirt, and the cheeky sequel that came out of it.

Where the Idea Started: A Book on Voodoo

It all began with a book by Philippe Charlier, a French forensic doctor and anthropologist. I read it in French, my first language, but an English translation exists too.

I picked it up because most of what we read about witchcraft and occult history is centered in Europe, and a little in the United States with the Salem witch trials. Voodoo is everywhere in pop culture, yet we rarely learn much about it.

A quick note: I'm not an expert. I'm simply very curious, and I love reading and taking notes on these subjects. My designs are an artist's response to what I discover, not a scholarly research.

From Baron Samedi to Chicken Feet

For one of my earlier occult pieces, I created a vévé of Baron Samedi. This time, the book's cover stopped me in my tracks. The chicken feet on it are striking, and I think just looking at the image gets your imagination going.

So what does a chicken foot mean? In voodoo tradition, chicken feet are often associated with protection and with repelling evil. That made them a perfect subject for an OCCVLTE design. (It can keep the normies away!)

My Design Process, Step by Step

1. Quick pencil sketch. I start with a fast sketch to see how the design could look.

2. Inking with a Japanese brush pen. The bristles are long and hard to control, but it's worth it. The pen creates lively lines that are perfect for organic textures. I had a lot of fun with the tiny details.

3. Notes for next time. In my sketchbook, I always write down what could be improved. This time I noted that too many details can be too much, and that sometimes less is more.

4. Digital inking in Procreate. I scanned the sketch and inked it on my iPad.

5. Testing it on a t-shirt. With fine white lines only, the design wasn't working on fabric. So I inverted it: instead of drawing delicate white lines, I flipped the artwork to get a bolder, more graphic result.

The Result: The Chicken Feet T-Shirt

The finished design features the chicken feet on the front and the OCCVLTE logo on the back. It's a protective, slightly spooky statement piece for anyone into alternative, witchy style. (It also comes in a hoodie version with the chicken feet on the back).

Meet "Voodoo Support"

While working through a coaching program with Women of Illustration, I shared the chicken feet design with Dean. Their reaction? It almost looks like the chicken foot is grabbing a boob.

Challenge accepted. We created a second t-shirt design with two chicken feet holding the boobs, and we called it Voodoo Support. Because sometimes you need support that's a little more powerful than a bra. (It also comes in a longsleeve for chillier seasons).

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Thank you for reading, and see you around.

Diane, OCCVLTE